Lookin' For Trouble....

Look for my upcoming blog post on ATGATT!

Invincible?

Confederate

Confederate Motorcycles is an Alabama based custom bike manufacturer specializing in hand built American inspired creations with enlightened designs. After recently seeing a preview for the latest version of the movie franchise, I can't help but think of 'RoboCop' when I look at these bikes.

Street Fighter

We're all about slick rides here at BlueCircle Insurance, so much that we have products built for riders, by riders. Let us help you get coverage for your vintage, custom or home built bikes!

Love, Speed and Loss

In a continuation of the Kim Newcombe saga that I posted about yesterday, there is a bit more to the story than Kim's death on the racetrack.

Newcombe left behind his young wife and son, who were part of a documentary film titled "Love, Speed and Loss". Basically the story is about Kim and his career, but also of his wife Janeen and his son Mark. It marks an era where emphasis and consideration by the racing administration and track owners toward rider safety was less than what it deserved, though we know the sport is intrinsically dangerous. Too many riders like Kim Newcombe, Renzo Pasolini and Jarno Saarinen may have died needlessly and may have survived had some of the modern safeguards used today were in place back in those days. 

Things have changed and life goes on, and it was interesting to note that it was the first time Janeen Newcombe had returned to a racetrack since Kim's death when attending the 2004 Biker's Classic held in Belgium. Maybe it was to watch 2 sons, Mark Newcombe and Renzo Pasolini Jr., participate in 2 honour laps on their motorcycles, in memory of their fathers and the impact they had on the sport.

Kim Newcombe and his son mark, sharing the podium with Giacomo Agostini

Kim in action on the Konig

KIm, with wife Janeen and son Mark

Kim, with Don Jarvie, who still own his own Konig

Mark Newcombe on the Konig

Mark, Janeen and legend Phil Read

Outboard Motor Challenges Grand Prix Motosport

Kim Newcombe was an innovative, New Zealand born Grand Prix racer from the '70's, who had a promising career ahead of him before a tragic and avoidable racing accident claimed his life at the age of 29.
Newcombe was racing bikes in New Zealand and Australia and working as a marine engine mechanic. Inevitably, he got into racing boats and discovered the Konig racing outboard motor. This was a 494c.c. flat-four with a boxer layout used in hydrofoil racing. Newcombe loved the simplicity and power of the motor and eventually met the engine's designer. One thing led to another and soon Newcombe and family were living in Europe, where Kim worked in the Konig factory. While there, he became involved in a project using the Konig motor for a motorcycle and soon had a prototype bike ready to roll.
Of course, it was a boat motor and was set up to drive a propshaft directly, with no transmission in between. In other words, there was a lot of work required to modify the engine, including tilting it

so they could get a gearbox under the back. It was also laid out so the cylinder heads pointed front and back, making it very slim but also long and low.



The motor!

Since outboard motors use the water they run on to keep them cooled, the bike had some over heating issues but Newcombe came up with a smart solution with a liquid cooled magnesium sump which was bolted to the bottom of the engine.

Engine detail

The New Zealander in action

Once his prototype bike was built and ready to test, Newcombe hit the race track and competed in several Moto GP events. He was actually able to challenge the power house MV Agusta bikes that were dominating at the time, with the likes of racers Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read. In fact, Newcombe came second to Read in the 1973 500c.c. Grand Prix World Championship, which included a first place finish in one race and a second place in another.

But, in a strange twist of fate, during a non-competitive event at Silverstone raceway, tragedy struck. Newcombe walked the track prior to the race and noticed the danger on one particular corner, subsequently requesting hay bales be placed there for rider protection. His request was deemed unnecessary and was denied. Later that day, Newcombe lost control on the very same corner, hitting the concrete barriers and suffering massive head injuries. He died three days later, leaving behind his wife and two year old son.

The Konig

Phil Read "The Prince Of Speed"

A contemporary of Mike Hailwood , featured in a previous blog post, Britain's Phil Read is known as
as the Prince of Speed. He might also be called the Prince of Longevity – since he won his first world championship event (the 350 TT) at the Isle of Man in 1961 and his last, the World TT Formula One Championship, back on Mona’s Isle in 1977. That's 16 years of winning, when most riders don't last half that time in the circuit.
Read won seven world GP championships between 1964 and 1974. He recorded 52 GP victories and 121 podiums across the 125, 250, 350 and 500 classes, including seven TT victories when the Isle of Man was a championship round.
He was the first rider to win world titles in the 125, 250 and 500 classes, Yamaha’s first world champion (1964 250 crown), MV’s last world champion and the last rider to win the 500 championship on a four-stroke machine (1974 500 crown). Read was 35 when he claimed the second of his two 500 championships — the second-oldest premier-class champion ever.
Some said Read had the misfortune to hit the scene at the same time as fellow Englishman Mike Hailwood, who may have over shadowed his accomplishments. They won their first championship races in the same week, and were considered near equals for talent and for bringing out the best in any motorcycle.
Certainly,  Read rode some fearsome machines, from Gilera 500-4s to the Yamaha RD56 air-cooled 250 twin, the famous Yamaha V4 125 and 250, and the MV 500 triples and fours.
Read also had the mentally toughness to cope with both a dangerous era and rivals such as noted hard man Jim Redman. He was also a team mate of the great Giacomo Agostini, featured in another earlier post.

On  MV Agusta 

A win over another legend, Agostini, and New Zealander Kim Newcombe

Read and Agostini as MV Agusta team mates

B.C. Snowshoe

Beautiful day to strap on the snowshoes and trek in the Kootenays

Lots Of Good Fun That Is Funny!

Did you know that Dr. Seuss, a.k.a. Theodor Geisel, not only wrote some well known and well loved childrens books, he also did a lot of other art as well.  Of course, his style is so very distinctive, and if you know anything about 'The Cat In The Hat' or 'Green Eggs And Ham', you'd have no trouble identifying a piece of Geisel's art work.

The Blue Circle crew was very pleased to get an invite from Art Evolution Gallery owner Christopher Talbot to attend their special presentation and exhibition titled 'The Secret Art Of Dr. Seuss'. Aside from conjuring up some great memories of books read and stories told, it was great to see Geisel's whimsical yet evocative pieces up close and personal. 

The exhibit is currently running through to April 3rd, so best get in and see it before it's gone.

Who doesn't recognize this fine fellow?

The presentation,  including 'Orient Cat'

Stacy, Gerry and Dirk check out the facts

Mike "The Bike" Hailwood

Regarded as one of the greatest racers of all time, Mike Hailwood was known as "Mike The Bike" for his natural riding ability on a wide range of engine sizes. He was the first to ride 'frog style', a stabilizing technique still used to this day. He showed great promise at an early age and by 18 had won the Thruxton 500 endurance race with team mate Dan Shorey. Three years later he earned a spot racing on the up and coming Honda racing team and later that year was the first man in the history of the Isle of Man TT to win 3 races in one week, taking the 125c.c., 250c.c. and 500c.c. categories. The next year he raced with MV Agusta and became the first man to win four consecutive World Championships, all in the 500c.c. category. A few years later and Hailwood was at it again, this time winning four more World Titles in 1966 and 1967, in the 250c.c. and 350c.c. categories.

There were many other great wins and stories that went with them, including a dramatic and historically significant win against his great rival Giacomo Agostini in the '67 Isle Of Man Senior TT. Hailwood was so good that in 1968, Honda paid him today's equivalent of over $1 million to not race for another team, when they were forced to withdraw from the circuit.

Though he never had the same success in car racing, he did win a couple of Formula Two European Championships and  the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. he was also awarded a medal of bravery for rescuing  fellow racer Clay Regazzoni from his burning race car, despite catching his own racing suit on fire. 

Hailwood retired with 76 Grand Prix victories, 112 Grand Prix podiums, 14 Isle of Man TT wins and 9 World Championships, including 37 Grand Prix wins, 48 Grand Prix podiums, 6 Isle of Man TT wins and 4 World Championships in 500cc. He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1979. The FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2000. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall OF Fame in 2000 and the International Motorsports Hall OF Fame in 2001.

Sadly, after surviving so may years of a dangerous sport, Mike was killed in an auto accident, along with his 9 year old daughter, when he was just 41 years old.

Hailwood was the first to use the "frog-style" technique

At the race course

Old School style

Arrrggg! Damn Snow!!!

Won't get the bike out in this crap! And, another 4 days of the same forecast, so goodbye weekend riding!

My street, this morning!

Ready To Ride?

Shake off the cobwebs!!

Daytona Bike Week

Harry and Nancy were down in Florida, enjoying some Daytona Bike Week fun! They sent me a bunch of photos to share, and make me feel a bit jealous for the sunshine and warmth of some real riding weather! Some cool custom bikes and lots of events going on, so maybe next year we'll join them down there!

Stretched...

Makes me think of my last post featuring Cyclecars!

Even though I love the look of this Bagger, the old Police Special in the background caught my eye and reminded me of my old bike 'Pearl'

Light 'em up!

More 3-wheelers

Lots of bikes and riders...

and bikes and riders!

That's one big front tire on this custom bagger

Portable toilet stall converted to ATM! 

How tough would this raked and stretched chopper be to handle?

Another nice customization on this Hayabusa

3 Wheelers...Vintage Style

My last post was about the original Cyclecars and how that trend was started. The Morgan Motor Company wasn't the only manufacturer and style, as you'll see form the photos. Here's a few samples of some restored models from back in the 1930's and a few of the new ones that are still available to purchase today. If you're going to three-wheel it, why not do it in one of these classy rigs? If you do, let us help you out with the insurance!

An original 1930's Morgan 3 wheeler  with Matchless engine

A variety of styles in these British 3 wheelers

On the road

Totally Brit

Now available in North America

It definitely has a 'steam-punk" look

2013 Pembleton "Grasshopper"

"Grasshopper" in the grass

2011 Morgan Super Dry

Super Dry